29 cases of security breach at major airports since 2011: Government

NEW DELHI: There have been 29 cases of security breach at major airports from 2011 till last month, though the number has been on the decline, Lok Sabha was informed today.

This year till June, two cases of security lapses have been reported from the Delhi airport, Minister of State for Civil Aviation G M Siddeshwara said in reply to questions and added that these were brought to the notice of concerned agencies for appropriate action.

While 17 cases were reported in 2011 from six airports, seven of them at Chennai and six in Mumbai, the number declined to nine in 2012 with the maximum of four reported from Mumbai. In 2013, the number declined to only one case reported at Amritsar, he said.

In reply to another question, Siddeshwara said 13 cases have been reported over the last three years in which employees of Air India were found involved in gold and contraband smuggling. Disciplinary action has been initiated against them, he added.

On safety issues, the Minister said a total of 556 instances of flouting of safety norms by private aircraft and helicopter operators have come to the notice of DGCA from 2011 till last month.

The number of such cases were 38 in 2011, 227 in 2012, 167 in 2013 and 124 till June this year, he said, adding that enforcement actions like warning, suspension, cancellation and withdrawal of permits, licenses, authorisation and approvals have been initiated against the defaulting air operators.

Aviation regulator DGCA carried out 13 safety audits in 2011, 28 in 2012, 16 last year and 11 till June this year.

Severe actions were taken by DGCA against the defaulting air operators, including grounding of 14 aircraft, de-rostering from flying duties of 18 pilots and seven cabin crew members of several private air operators, he said.